SERIOUS SHORTAGE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 29, 4 February 1935, Page 8

SERIOUS SHORTAGE

WATER IN CANTERBURY THREAT OF MAJOR DISASTER. WATEB-RAOBS DRY UP. ( Per Pi-mb Association }. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 2. Owing to the drying-up of part, of the waler-race system in North Canterbury, the drought threatens to prove disastrous in a area of 30,000 acres near Oxford. On the lower levels no water is flowing at all, and sheep and lambs are beginning to die. Many farmers are driving their sheep two miles and .more to water. In the extensive Eyre water-race system, of eight main races there is water to fill only three partly at one time. The area that is dependent on irrigation from Brown’s Rock race in the WaiMakariri district is also seriously threatened. Districts south of the Waimakariri, particularly in the Malvern and Selwyn Counties, are similarly affected. This supply comes from the Selwyn, Hororata. Kakaia, and Kowai Rivers. Water is being rationed in the Malvern County. Water is urgently needed in the whole of the North Canterbury, and tu many farmers the dry spell is now as suming the proportions of a major disaster. OPPRESSIVE HEAT WAIKATO CONDITIONS. SOME RAIN AT HAMILTON. [ Par Pr«M Association ) AUCKLAND, Feb. 3. Oppressive heat has been experienced in the Waikato during the last four days, the temperature rising to 95 degrees in the shade on Friday, and 94 deg. on Saturday. These were the highest readings yet recorded in Hamilton this summer, and are believed to constitute a record.

Late on Saturday afternoon, steady rain set in in Hamilton, and continued for two hours. The rainfail ’n Hamilton totalled .17iu. Localities directly north and south of Hamilton experienced veritable deluges between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., but the weather then cleared and no rain has been since experienced, although tanks were filled and the danger of further grass fire temporarily averted. The rain did not penetrate far into the ground, and the peat fires were unchecked. PEAT FIRE IN WAIKATO MINISTER DIRECTS FIGHT. ( Per Pres* Association J. HAMILTON, Feb. 2. Sir A. Young is at present directing the peat fire fighting with Hamilton as headquarters. He has organised immediate steps to protect the peat areas with relief labour. He will leave for Wellington on Sunday.